From Venice with Love

Shananigans, thanks for your reviews- I'm not sure how it works in Canon to be honest- in my mind, they think the words while touching the necklace and the words appear that way on the partner necklace. Hope that helps!

Here's Chapter 25!


Hermione spent the rest of the day in the library. She felt her necklace warm from time to time, but she ignored it. When she felt she could stay in the library no longer, she went up to Gryffindor tower.

“There you are,” Ginny said, as she walked into the sombre common room. “I’ve been looking for you. Did you and Alessandro have a fight?”

“We broke up,” Hermione said. “Do you mind if I stay here tonight? I don’t want to be alone.”

“Of course. Hermione, I’m so sorry,” Ginny said, hugging her.

“I’m not,” Ron said irritably from a chair by the fireplace. “I thought he was a pompous arse.”

“Hush,” Ginny said, leading Hermione over to a corner to talk. When they sat down, she said, “He didn’t leave right away, you know. He went and had dinner with the Malfoys and that girl,”

“Of course he did,” Hermione said, partly to herself. “Has he left now?”

“I think so,” Ginny said. “I saw him with Malfoy’s girlfriend on the grounds. Malfoy doesn’t seem to like her too much. He seemed like he was barely tolerating her.”

“He probably didn’t want to get Pansy upset.”

“Oh she was, too. You should have seen her, sucking up to Malfoy’s father. It was very amusing to watch.” Ginny said, smiling, but it faded quickly. “I’m sorry, you’re not in the mood. What happened?”

“We’re just too different,” she said. “I realised it when I saw him with Mr. Malfoy. I would never be accepted.”

“You don’t know that, Hermione. His parents might not be as prejudiced as the Malfoys.”

“What if they are? Even if he would give them up for me, who am I to ask him to do that?”

“Who are you to make the choice for him?” Ginny said quietly. “I think you are doing this to avoid maybe being hurt later. Really, it’s his choice Hermione, not yours. If you do love him, you need to let him decide for himself. It’s not selfish for you to want to be with someone. I can see where you would want to know where it’s going but you’ve been dating only 4 months. That is really a question for the end of the year, Hermione.”

“I can leave him now and be okay,” Hermione replied, tears threatening. “I don’t think I’d be able to in 7 more months. I need to do this now, for my own sanity.”

“I think you’re wrong,” Ginny said. “But I’ll support whatever you decide, of course. He doesn’t seem the type to give up easily, though.”

“He’ll know I’m right,” Hermione said softly. “I should have known and never started this to begin with.” Tears did fall then, and Ginny hugged her tightly. “Come on, you don’t need the whole common room seeing this.” She led the tearful Hermione upstairs.

The next day, Hermione steadfastly ignored her necklace and took Ginny everywhere with her to avoid being cornered by Draco. Seeing him, talking to him, would weaken her resolve, which her mind told her, was right. She needed to do this now. As much as she hated Alessandro, she knew he was right. She spent another night in Ginny’s room, but then the weekend was over and she had to return to her room, alone. She went back to her room to shower and get her things for class. She could tell Draco had been here, her bed looked rumpled and a few of her books had been moved.. She went into her common room and found Ernie getting ready for class, grabbing his books.

“Good morning,” he said.

“Good morning,” she replied. “Do you think we can change the patrol schedule for this week? I haven’t been feeling very well; I’d really like to patrol earlier so I can get some rest.”

“Sure,” Ernie said, pulling out the sheet. “Would nine be okay? I can switch you with Terry Boot. He can patrol with Malfoy and you can go with Susan Bones.”

“Sounds good. Thank you,”

“I’ll let them know at breakfast,” Ernie said. “What’s wrong?”

“I’ve got a flu, I think.” Hermione said.

“You should go to the hospital wing and get something,” Ernie said.

“I will, thank you.” Hermione followed him out the door and down to the Great Hall for breakfast. She sat down at her table and saw him, out of the corner of her eye, go to Susan, Terry and Draco and let them know about the change. She refused to look up, but she knew Draco was staring at her.

“Feeling better, Hermione?” asked Harry, who didn’t look so good himself. His arm was in a sling from the game Saturday and he didn’t look up as he stirred his oatmeal.

“A little. You?”

Harry shrugged.

“You can’t help a bludger, Harry,” she said sympathetically.

“I know. It’s just our last year,” he sighed.

“There’s more matches, Harry. Focus on those.” She grabbed a roll from the table and began to nibble on it. “Nerves,” she said, as Ron looked at her strangely. She looked around for someone else going to Ancient Runes, but didn’t see anyone, so she got up. “I’ll see at lunch,” she said, grabbing her bag and leaving the table. She had barely gotten out of the Great Hall when she heard footsteps following her. Not turning around, she looked around for anyone she could catch up with, but it seemed everyone she knew was still eating. She gave up and walked into an empty classroom. Draco followed her and shut the door.

“Given up avoiding me, have you?” he said in a nasty voice. Looking at him, Hermione saw the scowl on his face, his grey eyes stormy and glaring at her.

She folded her arms. “I wasn’t avoiding you. You just couldn’t see me since you were snogging Gabrielle all weekend!”

“I was not and you know it!” he snapped back angrily. “I couldn’t very well smack her away in front of everyone. I did the best I could.”

Hermione knew he was right, but was too worked up to care. “You didn’t look upset to me!” she yelled. “Did she have dinner with you too?” When he didn’t respond, she kept going. “I suppose your father has already planned the wedding, then?”

“Hermione, she’s supposed to be my girlfriend, I couldn’t very well not invite her to dinner.”

“I managed to avoid dining with Alessandro!” Hermione was beyond angry now. “I’m sure she was all over you at dinner as well. I suppose you had to shag her too. You know, keep up appearances.”

“You need to calm down,” Draco said. “You’re not even making sense.”

“I’m done here,” she said, moving to leave, but Draco blocked the door.

“You are not leaving here until you tell me what’s really wrong. You don’t really believe I would do anything with Gabrielle.” He grabbed onto her arm and she was forced to look at him. “Do you?”

Hermione felt her anger ebb away slightly. “No,” she said finally. “I am very angry though.”

“What did Alessandro say to you?” he said, quietly, letting her go and moving away, now that Hermione had calmed down.

“Nothing I didn’t already know,” she said sadly.

“What did he say?” he asked again.

“Just that your parents would never accept me. We both know that’s true.”

“And? What else?”

“That this… our relationship, is pointless, because we both know how it’s going to end.”

“Do we?” Draco said, frowning. “And how is it going to end?”

“Badly,” she whispered, refusing to cry in front of him.”We can’t ever publically be together.”

“It sounds like you already have your mind made up,” he said, sounding very distant.

“I just don’t want to get hurt, Draco. And I don’t see how that won’t happen.”

“You could trust me,” he said. “I know you say you do, but obviously you don’t really.”

“I do trust you. I just don’t think that you’re thinking that far ahead.”

“Hermione, there’s a very good chance that in a year my father will either be dead or be in prison.” Draco ran a hand through his hair. “He’s the only one that would be a problem. My mother would come around. And the majority of my money, in case you’re wondering, is in trust from my grandfather and there’s nothing in his will that stipulates who I can or can’t be with. My father can’t touch that.” He cocked his head to the side. “Anything else?”

“No,” she said, feeling a little foolish.

“A lot will change once the war is done with,” he said, walking closer to her slowly. “Even when school ends, it will be much easier to see each other.”

“Depending what side you’ll be on.” Hermione interrupted.

“I already told you what side I’m on. My own.”

“Would that include You-Know-Who?”

“He’s crazy, Hermione. He can’t win.” Draco said. “I don’t think my father even believes that now. He won’t let me get stuck like he is.”

“You’re sure?”

“As sure as I can be. I won’t let myself get stuck like he is,” Draco had reached her now, and was standing as close as he could without touching her. “You need to learn to just ask me when you have a question, not go running around avoiding me. Because I will not do this again. It’s childish.”

“I know,” she said, finally letting her tears spill. “I’m just scared.”

“Then tell me that,” he put his arms around her, his voice soft, his mouth just beside her ear. “I won’t ever hurt you on purpose. Ever.”

Hermione didn’t respond, she just cried and let him hold her. After a while she began to feel foolish and silly. “I’m sorry,” she said finally. “I shouldn’t have let Alessandro get to me. He was so mad when you caught the snitch I should have known he’d have a go at me.”

Draco patted her hair. “Yes, I caught the snitch and then you ruined my weekend.”

“I’m sorry,” she said again, pulling away from him enough to wipe her eyes. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“You know what a catch I am and you’re terrified of losing me,” Draco said, smiling slightly.

“Oh, really?” she smiled back.

“Yes. Can’t say I blame you.” He chuckled and she laughed.

“I told Ginny I broke up with Alessandro,” she said. “We were being so nasty to each other, I had to say something.”

“Just as well,” Draco said. “I don’t want him coming back here. This way if he does, you don’t have to be friendly to him.”

Hermione sniffed and nodded.

“I spoke with my father,” Draco said. “He thinks I will be spending Christmas with Gabrielle’s family.”

“You still want to come?” Hermione asked, eyes wide. “I thought you’d be fed up with me.”

“People have fights, Hermione. I’m not going to leave you over it.” He looked at her seriously. “It has to stop though. I won’t go chasing after you every time someone tells you something you don’t like.”

Hermione nodded. “I’ve missed Ancient Runes,” she said, suddenly.

“And I’ve missed Astronomy,” he said.

Hermione smiled. “I suppose we could go back to my room and celebrate your victory,” she said. “Seeing as we’ve already missed class.”

Draco grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the door. “I can live with that,” he said.